Is my power washer too big to use with a foam cannon/gun?

**Taj5944** · 10-21-2011, 09:41 AM

Autopia -

Glad to have finally found a group of people that care about paint surfaces as much as I do. My friends and family think I`m crazy for spending 8+ hours detailing each of my cars! Anyways, onto my question. I`ve been washing all of my vehicles with either Meguiars gold class (2 home depot buckets w/ grit guards) and a microfiber wash mitt or some ONR on maintenance washes. Lately, I`ve taken interest in purchasing a foam cannon to hook up to my power washer. I have a basically new Husky 2800PSI power washer I purchased last year. Used it a few times and it works great. My concern is, I`ve seen alot of guys using power washers in the 1800 PSI range. Is my power washer too large to use a foam cannon?

**SuperBee364** · 10-21-2011, 09:44 AM

You`re all set. I use mine at 2800 psi and it works great.

**RaskyR1** · 10-21-2011, 10:46 AM

There are a lot of variable to pressure washers, but typically 1500-2000psi and 2-3gpm is ideal for cars. I personally like the 15 degree spray tip, but which you choose to use will also have an effect on the pressure. Just use common sense and you will be fine.

**Taj5944** · 10-24-2011, 02:58 PM

Ok, well that is good news then. Would you guys suggest foaming the entire car and letting it dwell for a few minutes? I`m assuming then you`d just use a regular garden hose with no attachments to gently rinse the foam from the vehicle?

**SuperBee364** · 10-24-2011, 04:19 PM

Here`s a couple of foam cannon vids...

Steps:

1. High pressure rinse

2. Foam layer

3. Dwell time (don`t let it dry on the car)

4. High pressure rinse. You might want to consider a CRSpotless for the final rinse so you can air dry without worrying about water spots

5. Blow dry

**David Fermani** · 10-24-2011, 07:34 PM

Great videos SuperBee! The foam looks delicious. How close do you get to the surface @ 2800 when not foaming?

OP - Any reason why you can`t back off the pressure of your PWer? 2800psi *could* be a little on the high side depending.

**SuperBee364** · 10-24-2011, 09:49 PM

Thanks, David.

My PW is actually 3000 psi. I keep it cranked all the way up to max pressure constantly, but use a 40 degree angle tip. On large metal panels with no badging, trim, or other delicates, I get the tip pretty close... like around three inches if it`s really dirty. Of course you want to back off quite a ways around trim, badges, etc.

**lostdaytomorrow** · 10-24-2011, 11:00 PM

2800 isn`t too high for most foam attachments in my experience,

**Paul Sparks** · 10-25-2011, 12:08 AM

Those are some serious suds you are putting out there. What soap are you using if I may ask.

**C. Charles Hahn** · 10-25-2011, 12:52 AM

Originally Posted by hotrod66paul

Those are some serious suds you are putting out there. What soap are you using if I may ask.

The video titles say Chemical Guys` Citrus Wash & Gloss in the first one, Zaino Z7 in the second.....

**Paul Sparks** · 10-25-2011, 07:02 AM

Thanks,I was looking at the video clip and completely missed the printed part. :thumb: You know what the say about getting old being a b**ch. LOL.

**Scooby24** · 10-25-2011, 08:50 AM

When I got mine, I was instructed that it actually works better on a high pressure/gpm unit. Mine is just 1.4 gpm and 1700 so I have it using very little water and almost entirely the soap mixture, but it works well that way.

**mikenap** · 10-25-2011, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by Scooby24

When I got mine, I was instructed that it actually works better on a high pressure/gpm unit. Mine is just 1.4 gpm and 1700 so I have it using very little water and almost entirely the soap mixture, but it works well that way.

What soap and mixture are you using? It appears a little more clingy than mine, then again I`ve got a PW similar in spec to yours and have been using 3oz of soap, with the remainder filled with water.

**Scooby24** · 10-25-2011, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by mikenap

What soap and mixture are you using? It appears a little more clingy than mine, then again I`ve got a PW similar in spec to yours and have been using 3oz of soap, with the remainder filled with water.

That was about 2 oz of Meguiars Hyperwash diluted with water. It was more clingy on this car because I had previously washed/clayed and touched up the week before and it was left in a garage for a week for the paint to cure, so it didn`t receive a rinse, just straight foam. It doesn`t cling quite as well on a wet car.

**mikenap** · 10-25-2011, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by Scooby24

That was about 2 oz of Meguiars Hyperwash diluted with water. It was more clingy on this car because I had previously washed/clayed and touched up the week before and it was left in a garage for a week for the paint to cure, so it didn`t receive a rinse, just straight foam. It doesn`t cling quite as well on a wet car.

Huh, I gotcha. Pretty similar to what I`m seeing. Maybe I need to upgrade my PW to get that thick, fluffy foam like in Supe`s videos. Mine is an AR112, I think it`s rated at 1.6gpm and 1600psi.